Perspectives on making mealtimes a meaningful experience for residents in care homes: a qualitative study
Deidre Wallace, Jackie Gulland, Jo Hockley, Catherine Mahoney, Scott MurrayBackground/Aims
Care home mealtimes can be highly anticipated social events that shape residents' sense of belonging, wellbeing and quality of life. Staff are central to this experience. The aim of this study was to explore care home staff perceptions of their mealtime roles and how these influence mealtime experience.
Methods
A qualitative exploratory study was conducted across three Scottish care homes using semi-structured interviews with nine staff and two residents. Data were analysed thematically.
Results
Care home staff mealtime roles combined functional and supportive relational elements. Residents' experience was intricately linked to staff involvement in mealtime routines and rituals, and was optimised by person-centred assistance, social interaction, and fostering relationships. Experiences were constrained by mealtime policy and practice, residents' preferences, abilities and cognitive impairment.
Conclusions
Mealtime experience can be optimised when care home staff intentionally craft them as enjoyable social occasions. This study highlights the centrality of care home staff roles and key factors that influence meaningful mealtime experiences for residents.
Implications for practice
Care home managers should value and support staff contributions to mealtimes by addressing staffing pressures, improving training, ensuring consistent resident care, and encouraging inclusive dining with family, residents, and staff where appropriate. Training should be holistic to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of individual residents. Creative ways of enhancing mealtimes and the social experience should be investigated with the activities co-ordinator.